I received my first makeup kit as a Christmas gift from a family member many years ago, and I remember being thrilled with it. I couldn’t wait to try it out and experiment with this beautiful thing I’d only ever heard about but never had the opportunity to use. In hindsight, I realize that makeup set was most likely bought at a dollar store and thus, composed of ingredients I probably should not be putting on my skin. The scary thing about this though, is that I only just recently disposed of one of the last lip glosses from that set after hoarding it for over 10 years.
The point of my story is this: we hang onto old makeup like we hang onto old clothes, clinging to the hope that we will wear them again one day and cluttering our lives in the process. Good makeup isn’t cheap, so it can be admittedly hard to throw it away.
Unlike old clothing, however, old makeup poses serious risks to our health. We need to change our thinking and accept that, like food, makeup only lasts so long.
A new study conducted by London Metropolitan University scientists found that expired cosmetics can contain lethal bacteria, including — but not limited to — ubacterium (which causes bacterial vaginosis), aeromonas (one of the causes of gastroenteritis and wound infections), and propionibacterium (one of the main causes for acne and other skin conditions).
In the study, five beauty products were tested by Dr Paul Matewele, a senior lecturer in Biomedical Science at London Metropolitan University. These products were from high-end brands just coming close to expiration or past their ‘use -by-date.’
What they found was nothing short of shocking.
“All the old make-up products of foundation, lip gloss and lipstick tested positive for Enterococcus faecalis under strict laboratory tests,” said Matewele. “Enterococcus faecalis is the potentially deadly strain of bacteria which causes meningitis and Septicaemia and is one of the biggest killers for newborn babies.”
Dr. Patrick Bowler, the founder of The British Association of Cosmetic Doctors, explains that “most products are packed with preservatives – in some cases as many as five or six – to ensure that they don’t allow bacteria to breed easily.”
With that being said, if you’re trying to live a toxin-free lifestyle, you should consider opting for organic or vegan products anyway. Be warned, however: lacking chemical preservatives, the shelf life of such products may shorten dramatically. Pay attention to expiry dates and don’t buy more than you need.
If your makeup doesn’t have an expiry date, you may be able to tell it has gone sour simply by paying attention to the state of your skin. Expired makeup can cause a reaction in “response to the molecule breakdown, that could lead to inflammation. And contact dermatitis, a broad term for inflammation of the skin, can in turn lead to redness, bumps, a rash, or even blisters and swelling of the skin” says Hadley King, M.D., dermatologist at SKINNEY Medspa in New York City.
The below list outlines when you should toss a particular product:
Mascara: 3 months
Liquid eyeliner: 3 months
Pencil or Kohl eyeliner: 12 months
Cream blush and multiple sticks: 12 months
Liquid Foundation/Concealer: 12 – 18 months (a water-based foundation will last up to 12 months, while oil-based will last slightly longer – 18 months – due to its natural preservative system)
Lipstick: 12 – 18 months
Powders (blush, bronzer, foundation): 24 months
Eyeshadow: 24 months
Nail polish: 24 months
Fragrance: 3 – 5 years
I recently wrote an article about a beauty blogger that went vegan (link here) and why it’s important. She can point you in the right direction toward cruelty free and vegan products to make sure you are getting the least amount of toxin exposure when using makeup.
If you want to learn more about the affects of make up you can also check out this article here.
Sources:
via Collective - Evolution